Whale Rubber

After leaving Spirit Tower, Ling Jing and Bibi Dong did not immediately return to their residence. Instead, they wandered around Spirit City.

The little incident at Spirit Tower did not seem to affect Bibi Dong's mood. At least, that was how she appeared.

Normally, seeing Yu Xiaogang act like that should have left Bibi Dong deeply disappointed. Even if she was not devastated, she should not have looked this cheerful, right?

Watching Bibi Dong smile, even occasionally nodding in greeting to those who recognized her, Ling Jing truly could not figure out what she was thinking.

It felt as though the current Bibi Dong did not like Yu Xiaogang quite as much as he had imagined...

Was it because the timeline was still relatively early, and their relationship had not yet developed to that later stage?

"Is there anything Little Jing wants to buy? If there is, just tell me. As long as it is not something rare like a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, I can still afford it."

Bibi Dong's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Ling Jing's thoughts.

Looking up at Bibi Dong's smiling face, Ling Jing shook his head.

Since he could not figure it out, he simply stopped thinking about it. No matter what, Bibi Dong had already signed a contract with him. As for Yu Xiaogang... he could go cool off somewhere else.

As for what Bibi Dong had just said... Ling Jing really did not have anything he wanted.

"Really nothing you want to buy?"

"Really..."

Before Ling Jing could finish, his attention was drawn to a shop nearby—a somewhat plump middle-aged man was tugging at another man who weighed about as much as he did, winking and gesturing as they whispered about something.

As they spoke, the two simultaneously revealed rather lecherous smiles.

Then, the fat young man strode into the shop with an impatient look on his face.

Noticing Ling Jing's gaze, Bibi Dong merely glanced over before saying softly, "If Little Jing is interested, we can go in and take a look."

With that, Bibi Dong took his hand and led him over.

There were no lights inside the shop, making it somewhat dim. Aside from the fat young man from before, there were no other customers, and the shop did not sell much either—mostly inconspicuous little trinkets.

However, after entering, the fat young man did not look at any of the other goods. He followed the owner straight to a counter. Then, the owner mysteriously pulled out several gelatinous chunks from beneath the counter. Most were slightly blackened, while only one or two were pale yellow.

"What is that?"

Ling Jing asked instinctively. Bibi Dong only took two looks before a blush instantly rose to her face.

Now she understood why the owner and buyer had acted so furtively at the entrance.

Buying something like that... of course they had to keep it out of sight!

Bibi Dong averted her gaze and instinctively bent down, leaning close to Ling Jing's ear as she whispered, "That is Whale Rubber."

Ling Jing froze slightly at her words.

Whale Rubber?

The stuff Huo Yuhao ate?

During the era of The Unrivaled Tang Clan, Whale Rubber's true use had already been discovered—it could strengthen the body, widen the meridians, and raise the limits of what one's bones could bear. Put simply, it could increase the maximum Soul Ring a Soul Master could endure.

But in this era, Whale Rubber was merely regarded as an intensely yang substance. Its medicinal properties were fiery and had a powerful aphrodisiac effect, generally circulating only in private among the continent's nobles.

That was why Bibi Dong's face had flushed after recognizing it as Whale Rubber.

Clearly, she also knew what Whale Rubber was used for.

Ling Jing recalled Whale Rubber's effects while silently considering how to ask Bibi Dong to buy it.

No, more accurately, if he wanted to buy it, Bibi Dong would probably help him. The important thing was how he would explain why he wanted to eat this stuff.

Should he explain Whale Rubber's true use to Bibi Dong?

It seemed... that was the only way.

Ling Jing tugged at the corner of Bibi Dong's clothes and spoke softly. "I saw a book in the orphanage library. It said that if Whale Rubber is heated until it completely softens and then consumed, it can increase the limit of Soul Rings one can endure."

Bibi Dong froze at once.

Although she had rarely visited the library while she was at the orphanage, she knew that the orphanage had one.

But... was what Little Jing said true?

If it was false, they would lose only a few Gold Soul Coins. But if it was true... this information would be extraordinarily important!

Bibi Dong made her decision in an instant and said directly, "Shopkeeper, I'll take all this Whale Rubber."

As soon as her words fell, the two fat men preparing to make their transaction jolted, instinctively turning toward the source of the voice.

After seeing Bibi Dong's face clearly, the fat young man's expression visibly turned stunned. "Your Highness the Holy Maiden?"

"This subordinate greets Your Highness the Holy Maiden."

He was actually a member of Spirit Hall?

Bibi Dong had no particular impression of him, but she still nodded and gave a soft acknowledgment.

Why had Her Highness the Holy Maiden come to such a small shop to buy Whale Rubber?

And who was this child beside Her Highness the Holy Maiden?

As if he had discovered some earth-shattering gossip, the Spirit Hall Soul Master's face suddenly broke into a slightly lecherous grin.

He had new gossip to share with his colleagues now, hehe~

But he quickly came to his senses. His expression changed slightly as he lowered his head. "This subordinate saw nothing today and heard nothing. This subordinate will take his leave!"

With that, he turned around and fled from the shop as though escaping for his life.

Bibi Dong could not help taking a deep breath.

But she also knew that if what Little Jing said was true, it would become Spirit Hall's top secret and absolutely could not be known by anyone else.

Therefore, she said nothing more. She merely raised her chin at the stunned shop owner. "Pack up all the Whale Rubber. I want all of it."

After having all the Whale Rubber packed up, she hurriedly took Ling Jing to Pope's Hall.

Qian Xunji had initially been surprised by Bibi Dong and Ling Jing's sudden arrival, but after hearing Bibi Dong's explanation, he quickly realized the importance of the matter as well.

After a brief moment of thought, Qian Xunji immediately asked, "Dong'er, who saw you when you bought the Whale Rubber?"

"Reporting to Teacher, only one member of Spirit Hall saw me. He was short and fat, with a very conspicuous black mole on his face. After seeing me, he quickly left that shop. Teacher, are you planning to...?"

After briefly recalling the man's appearance, Bibi Dong gave a rough description of the Spirit Hall member.

Of course, that was also because the man's appearance was simply too distinctive. If it had been someone else, Bibi Dong might not have been able to describe him in such detail.